Sports

30/07/2010

Countdown on to Mayo Youth Cycle Tour

The countdown has started for the start of the Mayo Youth Tour which starts in Kiltimagh on Saturday afternoon and continues through Sunday to until mid-day on Monday. In just two years the Mayo Youth Tour has grown into Ireland’s most important underage cycle race. The entry currently stands at a record 158 cyclists, ranging in age from 10 to 16 years.
 
The race will bring a big influx of visitors to fill the hotels and B&Bs of Kiltimagh and surrounding areas over the Holiday weekend.
 
The action starts at 2.30pm on Saturday afternoon with events on a 30-kilometre circuit starting and finishing in Kiltimagh and taking in Barnacarroll and Knock.
 
There’s a 9am start to Sunday’s programme which kicks off with a four-kilometre time trial on the Kiltimagh to Bohola road. It will be followed at 2.30 with more road racing on a 36-kilometre circuit from Kiltimagh to Bohola, Ballyvary and Balla before returning to finish in  Kiltimagh.
 
There will be a spectacular climax to the race with a “criterium” (short circuit) stage in Kiltimagh from 9am to 12 noon on Monday morning. The start and finish line is outside the Credit Union, and takes in Knock Road, Station Road and Kilkelly Road. The circuit is just over one kilometre round, which means the riders will be lapping every 90 seconds or so.
 
The entry list is headed by Team Ireland, which includes Francis Sheridan of Westport’s Covey Wheelers; while the Ireland Development squad includes Chris Kennedy and Jason Prendergast also from Covey Wheelers. 
 
Castlebar Cycling Club has an excellent turn-out of 17 riders – the biggest club entry in the race
 
Visiting teams include the Isle of Man with 17 riders, Scottish Cycling with six and Eastern England with five. There is also a four-strong team from Germany’s Frankfurt FSG club, making their Irish debut..
 
The Mayo Youth Tour is supported by Mayo/Roscommon Chapter of Credit Unions and Cycling Ireland.
 
 
Race details:
 
Headquarters: Park Hotel, Kiltimagh, County Mayo.
 
Sign on: At Park Hotel, Kiltimagh from 11am to 1pm on Saturday, July 31.
 
Stages:
Saturday, July 31 (2.30pm) Stage 1: Kiltimagh-Barnacarroll-Knock-Kiltimagh, 1 lap = 30km.Two laps for U16s & U15s; one lap for U14s & U13s Under-12s start in Barnacarroll.
 
Sunday, August 1 (9am) stage 2, Time Trial, 4km, Kiltimagh to Bohola road, R321.
 
Sunday August 1 (2.30pm) stage 3, Kiltimagh-Bohola-Ballyvary-Balla-Kiltimagh, 1 lap = 36km. (30.5km). Two laps for U16s & U15s; one lap for U14s & U13s Under-12s start in Balla..
 
Monday August 2 (9am) stage 4, criterium on flat 1.2-kilometre circuit, starting and finishing outside Credit Union in Kiltimagh.